TV Ratings: ABC's 'Dancing with the Stars' romps on Monday

Denise Richards does the splits on Monday (March 16) night's 'Dancing with the Stars'

Credit: Kelsey McNeal/ABC

Fast National ratings for Monday, May 16, 2009.

Those huge premiere numbers for ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" appear not to have been a fluke, as ABC trounced its Monday competition for the second straight week.

ABC averaged a 4.6 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, edging out the 4.2 rating for FOX and the 4.0 rating for CBS. NBC grabbed fourth with a 1.3 rating, nipping the 1.1 rating for The CW.

Overall, ABC averaged an estimated 17.88 million viewers and a 11.4 rating/18 share, far ahead of the 7.3/11 for second place CBS. FOX was a close third with a 7.1/11. NBC came in a distant fourth with a 2.4/4, at least beating The CW's 1.5/2.

In the 8 p.m. hour ABC got a 12.7/20 from the first hour of "Dancing with the Stars." FOX's "House" was well back in second with a 7.6/12, beating the 5.7/9 averaged by CBS comedies "Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met Your Mother." NBC's repeat of "Chuck" finished fourth, beating the 1.5/2 for the apparently less-than-highly-anticipated return of "Gossip Girl."

"Dancing with the Stars" improved to a 13.9/21 in its second hour. CBS moved up to second with a "Two and a Half Men" (8.4/13) and "Rules of Engagement" (6.9/10). FOX finished third with a 6.6/10 for "24." NBC's "Heroes" repeat was down to a 1.9/3, while The CW's "One Tree Hill" return held steady.

CBS moved into first at 10 p.m. with an 8.6/14 for "CSI:Miami." ABC got encouraging numbers from "Castle," which duplicated its 7.7/13 in its second week. NBC's repeat of "Medium" was down in third. 

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

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Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.